Eastern Tangkhul Nagas rally for peace, immediate transfer of army officer

February 28, 2019 1145 Views No Comment

By Tennoson Pheiray

Ukhrul | 28 February 2019

The eastern Tangkhul Nagas February 28 took out a peaceful rally at Kamjong Headquarter and submitted a memorandum to Chairman Cease Fire Monitoring Group, Government of India demanding immediate transfer of Commanding Officer Col. Ajay Kumar of 31 Assam Rifles and action against Deputy Commandant, II Singh Meitei, Field Intelligent Unit, 10 Sector IGAR South for terrorizing the Naga populace.

The memorandum stated that the people of the area have repeatedly communicated to Col. Ajay Kumar for withdrawal of KNA/KNO from the region to their designated camp. The memorandum stated that KNA/KNO cadres are operating freely with full arms in and around Kamjong region.

The State Government and the Assam Rifles posted at Kamjong is turning a blind eye to the barbaric acts of the KNA/KNO cadres who frequently frisk and search causing inconveniences to the movement of civilians. The memorandum also stated that on 20th February, the Assam Rifles in civvies dress picked up NSCN cadres which it stated was totally uncalled for during ceasefire period.

The memorandum mentioned that Col. Ajay Kumar during a meeting with the civil organisations has stated that the Assam Rifles of Kamjong does not need the cooperation of the populace. Col. Ajay Kumar in connivance with the KNA/KNO cadres is maneuvering to sabotage the peaceful co-existence of the citizen and accused the Assam Rifles of Kamjong sheltering KNA/KNO cadres negating the interest of the civil populace stated the memorandum.

The memorandum also questions the sincerity of the Government of India and the Assam Rifles in maintaining peace and harmony in the region. Meticulously extending safe haven or sanctuary to the underground outfits at Kamjong area may arise serious consequences whereby disrupting the peaceful environment. It may usher ethnic tension among the communities and lose its confidence on the Assam Rifles as “Friends of the Hills People” and may even affect the hard earned ongoing Indo-Naga political talks.

Therefore, in order to avert such unwanted incidence, the memorandum has appeal the authority to immediately transfer the incumbent Commander Col. Ajay Kumar and Deputy Commandant II Singh Meitei in order to restore age long healthy relationship stated the memorandum. It also appeal the concern authority to stop patronizing and giving safe haven to underground outfits and to instruct armed personnel to follow the ceasefire ground rules to avoid any unwanted incidents.

The memorandum jointly signed by 12 organisation was submitted to Chairman, Ceasefire Monitoring Group, GoI through the Deputy Commissioner of Kamjong and was copy to Interlocutor (GoI) RN. Ravi, and Special Secretary, Home Ministry Miss Reena Mitra.

Hundreds of people from Kamjong Headquarter and neighbouring villages took part in the peace rally. The rally began at Kamjong Ground and marched till 31 Assam Rifles post and culminated for a public meeting at Kamjong ground. The rallyist were carrying placards “Maintain Peace and Harmony” “Don’t Crete bias policy, causing ethnic tension” “Nagas are peace loving people” “No sincerity Assam Rifles -Friends of the hills people” “We want peace” etc.

Headman, Bungpa Khullen Village M. Chithung while interacting with media persons informed that on 20 February at around 8:45am, Deputy Commandant, II Singh Meitei (FIU) in civil dress arrested 3 cadres of NSCN at Kamjong namely Ashang, Aso and Panshok and was kept in the family quarter of 31 Assam Rifles, Kamjong.

However, the timely intervention by the Kamjong women folks ultimately led to the release of the 3 cadre of NSCN he added. He stated that the tactics and deployment of KNA/KNO cadres in the Kamjong area under the 31 Assam Rifles has greatly disturbed the harmony and tranquility of the area and thereby creating fear psychosis among the populace.

It is worth mentioning that on January 2019, one cadre of KNA was allegedly abducted from Chassad near Kamjong. It is reported that the clashes between KNA and IM cadres at Sinakeithei on 14 January 2019 is likely the outcome of this incident.